Last Updated on: 30th June 2026, 04:06 pm
NOTE: THE VENICE ACCESS FEE WAS A TRIAL AND HAS ENDED AS OF JULY 28TH, 2025. The access fee is now a permanent feature. A calendar is released for the up coming months for when the fee is applied. For more information, see https://cda.veneziaunica.it/en/access-fee. Read the updated information at the bottom of this article.
What was the Venice access fee trial?
On April 25th 2024, Venice (Italy) started charging day visitors to the Venetian historical lagoon town 5€ per person, per day, in a trial run to discourage day trip visitors and weekend visitors. Seems like they don’t want visitors at all. The trial ended on July 14th. Here is what the 2024 trial was about.
Venice has introduced a fee to day visitors of the lagoon island in a trial run due to last 29 days.
Who had to pay the fee to visit Venice in 2024?
All day visitors who are not exempt (see summary list below), must pay the fee, including those who arrive on a tour bus.
How much was the fee to enter Venice in 2024?
During the trial phase, the new fee is 5€ per person per day, for visitors 14 years old and over and when travelling to the island between the hours of 8:30am and 4pm. Outside of these hours, the fee does not need to be paid.
When the fee is introduced properly, the fee will range between 3 to 10 Euros per person.
When and how did visitors have to pay the fee to visit Venice?
At the time, visitors can pay online in their official payment website, https://cda.ve.it/it/ before arrival, or upon arrival at ticket booths. A QR code will be generated and when requested, must be shown to ticket inspectors.
When was the fee charged?
The fee was a trial and lasted for 29 days in 2024. They were the following days:
April: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
May: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
June: 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
July: 6, 7, 13, 14
The fee must be paid for day visitors 14 years and over visiting between 8:30am and 4pm daily. Outside of these days, visitors do not have to pay.
What if I don’t pay?
Although there are no turnstiles blocking entry to the town, random checks will be done, and day visitors caught without paying may be subjected to a fine of 50-300 Euros.
Who is exempt from paying the entry fee to Venice in 2024?
To see the full list of FAQ’s on exemptions to the fee, see their official website: https://cda.ve.it/en/faq
Those who are exempt from paying the fee are required to request an exemption on their official website: https://cda.comune.venezia.it/en/richiestaEsenzione
Here is a summary of reasons for being exempted from paying the fee:
- People who are staying overnight in paid accommodation in the historical lagoon town. You have to visit the official website and request an exemption to the fee and provide the name of the hotel you are staying at. The exemption is valid from the day you arrive to the day you depart Venice.
- Visitors under 14 years old
- Athletes attending a sporting event in Venice
- Any worker (self employed or freelancer included) from outside Venice that work in or occasionally enters Venice for work.
- Students on a school trip to Venice or who attend school in Venice
- People in the police, fire service or army (this may be Italian nationals though)
- Residents of the greater Veneto region or metropolitan city of Venice
- Owner of a property in Venice, including residential rental properties
- Relatives of residents of Venice, and relatives who are attending funerals
- People visiting residents of Venice – the resident must generate an exemption code which the visitor will enter in the exemption area online on their official website
- Other reasons for accessing Venice urgently:
- Disabled visitors and their companion
- Medical practitioners who are visiting to carry out a medical examination or procedure in Venetian healthcare facilities
- People assisting or accompanying visitors to healthcare facilities
- Spouses and relatives to the third degree who are visiting people in a healthcare or social facility
- Public authority visiting for institutional reasons
- Visitors of the prison
- People summoned to Venice for justice, public office or public interest
- Witnesses in proceedings taking place in Venice
What is the new permanent Venice access fee about?
This long-proposed fee is being charged to all visitors to the Venetian historical town who do not stay overnight in paid, recognised accommodation facilities.
Venice has long been subjected to over-tourism, especially those who arrive and depart the same day, such as via cruise ships. Tourism officials and some locals state that these kind of visitors use Venetian resources during their visit, but contribute little to the local tourism economy, since cruise ship visitors only stay for short amount of time and return to the ship for food and accommodation.
The fee has been introduced to contribute to the maintenance of Venice and to discourage day trip and weekend tourism.
The Venice Access Fee is now permanent, in 2026 and a calendar for the days the fees are implemented (all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) can be seen here: https://cda.veneziaunica.it/en/access-fee.
How much is the Venice Access fee in 2026?
The Venice access fee in 2026 is 5€ for each day you visit without staying over night, if you book 4 or more days before your arrival, and 10€ if you book less than 4 days before you visit. You can leave and re-enter the same day, the fee covers the entire day.
How do I pay the Venice Access fee in 2026?
To pay the Venice Access fee, visit their website: https://cda.veneziaunica.it/en/choose-the-date. You will then get a QR code that is valid for your stay, this code is scanned by local authorised inspectors entering the ancient town. If you don’t want a QR code for some reason (which is a much more convenient method), you can download the long PDF form on their website: https://cda.comune.venezia.it/en/richiestaEsenzione.
You can cancel your “booking” up to the day of your visit.
Are there any exemptions to the Venice Access fee? How do I know if I am exempt?
If you are not entering the ancient town (the main tourist attraction area including where the Rialto bridge is), then you don’t have to pay. If you are only entering the connection areas: the main train station (the Santa Lucia Station), Ponta della Liberta, or Piazzale Roma, you don’t have to pay, and you also don’t have to pay for the minor islands of the Venice lagoon.
Other exemptions are the same as the above mentioned ones. For the full list of exemptions, visit their website: https://cda.veneziaunica.it/en/exemptions.
Note: Just because you are exempt, does not mean you don’t have to do anything before your arrival! Depending on your circumstances, you may need to request an exemption before you arrive, for example, bring a self declaration for being exempt if you have a disability, or student ID if you are a student. Visit their website for details.
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